Three Girls was among shows prompting a surge in calls to the BBC’s Action Helpline (Picture: BBC)

The hard-hitting storylines in BBC dramas such as Three Girls and Apple Tree Yard has led to a huge spike in calls to the corporation’s Action Helpline in 2017.

According to official figures, the number of people using the service – which provides information for viewers affected by issues in programmes – shot up to 431,000 over the past 12 months compared to 280,000 in 2016.

And shows such as Three Girls – based on the true stories of the victims of grooming and sexual abuse in Manchester – have been credited with the rise in the number of people seeking help.

Apple Tree Yard – which starred Emily Watson as a woman who has a fling with a stranger, leading to devastating consequences – also sparked a lot of calls due to a controversial rape scene in its first episode.

Apple Tree Yard also prompted calls after it featured a controversial rape scene (Picture: BBC)

‘The BBC’s public service role means we’re uniquely placed to help audiences deal with these difficult issues.’

Other shows which prompted calls included Holby City, with 6,455 viewers calling the helpline for information after storylines which highlighted bullying, LGBT domestic abuse, organ transplant, cancer and bereavement.

Radio 4’s long-running drama The Archers led to 7,024 Action Line page views on the website following the storyline dealing with Kirsty Miller’s late miscarriage, while Ted Murray’s PTSD battle in EastEnders sparked 3,939 calls and site visits.

Issues in real-life shows such as Hospital and A Time To Live – a show about palliative care – also resulted in calls.

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